300k on transmission fluid

William B

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Aug 8, 2025
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North Carolina
Hey y'all I'm new here. I have a 2015 Chevy 2500 with about 340,000 miles. To my knowledge the transmission fluid has never been changed. Outer spin on filter changed often. Been driven pretty hard for the last 250k. Not having any problems. Should I change the fluid or ride it till it dies?
 

2004LB7

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Dec 15, 2010
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Welcome

I'd change it.

If you can find a shop that can do a hot flush then this is the way to go. you certainly saved enough money on maintenance to afford it ?
 

NC-smokinlmm

<<<Future tuna killer
May 29, 2011
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There is a theory that if you go that long the fluid suspends the clutch material and helps keep the trans from slipping. If it was mine and it had gone that long it let it ride. I know of guys with 4l80’s with several hundred thousand miles that will never change it.
 

SoCalMike

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Dec 12, 2010
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I would at least do a fluid exchange. I would not flush it, just do a drain and fill twice. That's what I do every 35k miles. And don't forget about your transferase if you have one.
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
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Oct 21, 2009
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For reference, my detailer buddy had a lly with 350k on it. Never touched the trans fluid or filters. The most he did was check the level.

At 300 K I went ahead and dropped the pan and change the internal filter and external filter. Drove that truck around for him for 100 miles and then did another drain fill on it not one issue with the trans since.

The internal design of the Allison makes it extremely resilient against poor maintenance compared to many other transmissions. Now that doesn’t mean that every trans is gonna last 500,000 miles without maintenance. That external filter is constantly sending fresh fluid into the valve body after it’s already gone through the internal filter. The internal filter is there to filter for the rest of the trans.



There are very few transmissions we will touch at the shop in situations like yours. Alison is one that we will.
 

2004LB7

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I would at least do a fluid exchange. I would not flush it, just do a drain and fill twice. That's what I do every 35k miles. And don't forget about your transferase if you have one.
I think I remember MikeL talking about this issue once. The 4L and similar designed transmissions if neglected can have more issues if you just do a fluid change. But the Allison has no such problem. As James mentioned above, extra filters play a part in this. Mike said do a fluid change at a minimum. And a hot flush if you really want to be sure. But a regular fluid change wouldn't hurt it like some other trans
 

SoCalMike

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Dec 12, 2010
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California
I would at least do a fluid exchange. I would not flush it, just do a drain and fill twice. That's what I do every 35k miles. And don't forget about your transferase if you have one.
I forgot to add change the internal filter like James mentioned.
Mike L it the one who built my trans and gave me the recommendations.

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk
 

William B

New member
Aug 8, 2025
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North Carolina
Appreciate all the advice guys. I'm going to change it and see how it goes. Hopefully I will remember to let you know the results. And I appreciate y'all not beating me up for my stupidity of letting it go this far. Sometimes life is overwhelming!
 

William B

New member
Aug 8, 2025
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North Carolina
Probably no one cares but I said I would let you know the results of changing the trans fluid after 300,000 miles. Found out that it had been changed at least once before I got the truck because it had two internal filter seals in it. so all went well and it is doing fine. I appreciate the help.